I have always envied those around me who seem to always have perfect smiles without even trying, because I feel like I was born with "bad teeth." While my teeth are in great shape now, it is only because I take great care to visit the dentist every six months for a check-up and cleaning and maintain good oral hygiene habits at home. While I used to get a lot of cavities, even though I thought I was doing "everything right" to keep them away, I am proud to say that I have been cavity-free for a couple of years now! I put a lot of research into what daily habits can wreak havoc on my teeth, and I thought it would be a shame not to share what has helped me with others who need the advice. I plan to post many oral health tips on my new blog!
Looking into getting dental veneers to fix cosmetic problems with your teeth? One big decision you'll need to make is if you want porcelain or composite veneers. While they may seem very similar, the two materials are actually quite different. Here is what you need to know about these two materials.
Composite Veneers
Composite veneers are made out of the same white material that are used to make dental fillings. It can be bonded to the front surface of your teeth and used to fill in those gaps between teeth or cover other visual problems that you want to hide.
Many people like composite veneers because it is done freehand by the dentist in their office, which means it can all be done in a single visit. If you are looking to get dental veneers so your teeth look good for an upcoming event, you'll for sure have your teeth looking great in time.
Since dental veneers can be installed by the dentist in a single visit, it also means that the veneers can be repaired in a single visit. If you ever run into a problem where the veneers become chipped or damaged, your dentist can have the problem resolved very fast. However, know that the composite material used for these types of veneers is not going to be as strong as they could be if they were made out of porcelain material. This makes composite veneers more prone to chipping and cracking.
Porcelain Veneers
You may find yourself being much more satisfied with the long term results that porcelain veneers can provide. The main difference between these two is the prep work that is involved. Your dentist will need to remove a thin layer of enamel from the front surface of your teeth, take a mold, and then send it off to a lab to have the dental veneers created. Porcelain veneers tend to look very lifelike compared to composite veneers, with the color being able to match existing teeth in your mouth quite well.
The porcelain veneers are going to be much stronger than their composite counterpart, though they are not impervious to damage. If a porcelain veneer does break, you have a few options for how to fix them. Your cosmetic dentist may be able to bond the chipped material back to the existing veneers, or you can have a new portion of the veneers made in a lab again to completely replace the broken material.
Share18 February 2022
